#?3? 


■UHHHN 


OIIRCTTILAIR 


confederate  states  of  america, 
Bureau  of  Conscription, 

Richmond.  Va..  Sept.  10,  1868. 

It  is  believed  by  the  Superintendent,  that  the  agencies  of  conscription 
now  in  operation  are.  sufficient  for  the  prompt,  energetic  and  complete 
administration  of  General   Orders,  No.  A.  &   I.  G.  CP. ,  and  all 

subsequent  orders  and  instructions  strictly  concerning  the  enrollment, 
assignment  and  forwarding  of  conscripts.  While  cases  of  doubtful  in 
terpretation  or  application  of  the  law  will  continually  arise,  and  must 
necessarily  be  referred  for  adjudication  to  this  bureau,  it  is  confidently 
assumed  that  commandants  of  conscripts  are  now  provided  with  due  au- 
thority, and  force  sufficient  to  meet  all  demand.-  of  conscription. 

More  fully  to  ascertain  this,  the  circular  of  August  lUth,  1803,  was 
issued,  and  a  system  of  inspection  has  been  instituted,  by  mean.<  of  which 
all  deficiencies  will  be  supplied. 

Commandants  are  expected  and  required  to  use  all  tbeir  agencies  with 
the  utmost  vigor. 

The  conscription  must  be  pushed  to  its  full  legal  scope,  and  with  in- 
creased activity. 

Enrolling  officers  must  be  kept  up  to  the  work. 

The  country  looks  to  this  department  to  furnish  fresh  material  to  meet 
the  constant  depletion  of  its  armies. 

In  no  case  and  under  no  circumstances  will  the  commandants  be  per- 
forming their  duties,  if  they  retain,  without  reporting,  inefficient  enrolling 
officers. 

Assuming  theu  that  the  organization  for  conscription  is  complete,  and 
that  every  officer  will  do  his  duty  in  that  department,  your  attention  is 
now  specially  directed  to  those  other  grave  functions  imposed  upon  you. 
The  chief  one  is  that  of  arresting  and  returning  absentees  from  the  armies. 
This  now  is  the  great  duty  of  every  officer  in  this  department,  of  every 
state  authority,  and  of  every  citizen  of  the  Confederacy. 

I.  You  will  forthwith  proceed  to  organize  a  mounted  military  force  of 
such  material  as  you  can  obtain,  to  be  composed  of  non-conscripts,  ex- 
empts, and  other  persons  not  liable  to  military  service,  who  may  volun- 


teer  for  twelve  months'  Bervice  under  tin-  orders  of  this  bureau,  to  aero 
in  the  state  in  which  they  are  raised.  The  principal  duty  will  be  that  of 
Lr  abseutees,  and  in  repelling  local  invac 

Ymu  w  ill,  as  tar  as  practicable,  enlist  men  who  will  furnish  their  own 
h«rses. 

The  <■■  i  p  .1,;,  a  w i,i  be  allowed  in  elect  their  ow n  offieera. 

!  i  battalion  will  be  trader  the  command  of  an  officer  assigned  by  this 
bureau. 

You  will,  as  early  as  practicable,  report  your  opinion  on  the  probabili- 
ties of  racing  this  force,    li  will  be  mustered  in  and  armed  as  cavalry, 

with  sabies  and  earhines. 

ConaoBfptfl  will  not  he  admitted  into  the  organization,'  but  may  hero- 
after  be  assigned  to  that  service  by  special  order  from  this  bureau. 

Prompt  attention  to,  and  activity  is  demanded  in  this  matter. 

When  the  organization  is  complete  and  reported,  special  instructions 
will  be  given. 

IT  You  will  require  the  local  enrolling  officers  to  engage  actively  in 
their  respective  districts  in  efforts  to  procure  men  for  tin- service,  and  to 
forward  them  forthwith  to  your  camp  of  instruction,  giving  transporta- 
tion. When  reported  at  camp,  you  will  instantly  put  them  on  some  duty 
until  sufficient  numbers  arrive  for  the  organization  of  a  cavalry  company, 
According  to  Regulation's.  On  receiving  that  number,  you  will  order  the 
organization,  and  report  to  the  bureau  the  names  in  lull  of  the  officers 
t  lected. 

III.  Under  this  order,  you- are  authorized  to  raise  six  companies,'  not 
to  exc  ed  one  hundred,  rank  and  file,  ea<di. 

By  coiryuand  of  Col  John  8.  Preston,  Superintendent. 

P.  N.  PAGE, 

Capt.  S(  A.  A    Q 


To** 


Hollinger 

pH8.5 

Mill  Run  F3-1955 


